Prow of the Viking ship Oseberg, buried as a tomb in 834; later recovered and restored as the star of this Oslo museum.

Another angle of the Oseberg's prow. It makes the Viking era come alive once more. The ship is in fine condition.

Here is the entire Oseberg. Viking ships were designed with a prow at each end. All the better for the fastest escapes when conducting raids, there being no need to turn the ship around.

The Gokstad, built around 890, is the second Viking ship in this museum. It lacks a decorated prow, but otherwise looks extremely seaworthy.

The Gokstad's interior. Room for rowers, but not comfort. Each hole on the side is where the oars would have been. Vikings obviously had to be tough to sail these ships, a reputation that has survived through the centuries.

A lower view of the sleek Gokstad, which must have been quite a terror in Norway's Viking era.